Jose Molina rules the batting cage

DUNEDIN - Jose Molina was biding his time, quietly waiting for the traffic jam to clear in the batting cage so he could get a few swings.

Seeing an opportunity, he turned to no one in particular and said "Mind if I jump in here?"

Aaron Hill just looked at him.

"Jose," said Hill with a grin, "you've got 27 years in the big leagues. You can hit whenever or wherever you want."

Twenty-seven? Now that's stretching it. Molina has 10 years in but Hill was just making a point: The big catcher with the easy smile has earned every player's respect.

Molina is listed as the backup catcher and he'll get his usual 50-odd games behind the plate this year. But his added value is his mind and his willingness to share his experience with the Blue Jays' young catchers.

Yesterday he was working with Travis D'Arnaud and J.P. Arencibia.

"Every time I help somebody, I feel good," said Molina. "Guys can learn from me and helping is something I feel comfortable with. I want to see them develop into good catchers and play a long, long time.

"It's one of the reasons I come down here early. I'm not going to be in this game forever but the best reputation you can have is to share what you know with young kids. That will open a lot of doors.